PALESTINIANS FILE LAWSUIT AGAINST STATE DEPARTMENT OVER U.S. MILITARY AID TO ISRAEL
The war between Hamas and Israel has spilled into multiple countries and involves multiple groups, and the United States is one of them. Our nation’s strong ties to Israel complicate things further as supporters of Palestine stateside and around the world disagree with U.S. weapons and aid assisting with the deaths of a group of civilians caught in the middle of it all. Now, Palestinian families are suing the United States government for its role in the humanitarian crisis growing along the Gaza Strip and helping Israel with its campaign.
Palestinian Lawsuit Against the U.S. Government Due to Perceived War Crimes
Palestinian families are suing the U.S. government for its role in supporting Israel in its war against Hamas.
The death toll continues to rise and as a result, tens of thousands of people are dead throughout the Gaza Strip.
Stemming from a terrorist attack from Hamas in October 2023, Israel’s response has been sustained and heavy in the region.
Plaintiffs from Gaza have filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia based on the belief that the government is allowing Israel to be an exception to Leahy Law.
Created in 1997, Leahy Law prohibits America from providing military aid to nations when there is evidence of human rights violations.
“My surviving family members in Gaza have been forcibly displaced four times since October, living in constant fear of indiscriminate Israeli attacks carried out with American weapons,” said Ahmed Moor, a Palestinian American and one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit.
Moor is one of five plaintiffs bringing legal action against the American government. He is doing so, at least in part, because he believes the U.S. is breaking the law while hurting his family by backing Israeli forces.
The lawsuit against the U.S. from Palestinians was able to be filed due to the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) of 1946.
This legal action is being taken after a report from the State Department report in May 2024 stated that it was “reasonable to assess” that Israel violated international law during its campaign in Gaza—the same conflict involving American weapons.
Despite all of this, Israel maintains its innocence, hasn’t violated the agreements with the United States enabling the use of its weapons, and the government has yet to declare that there is enough evidence to suspend support.
It’s worth noting that the Biden administration was still conducting an ongoing review of how Israel was operating under international humanitarian.
Israel Maintains Its Innocence
Keeping U.S. forces off of the ground in the conflict has been a key for the American Armed Forces and government, yet it’s undeniable the backing from the United States through funding and weapons.
However, according to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other leaders, America isn’t maintaining a “double standard” for Israel, despite what the Palestinian families suing the U.S. government might believe.
Just under $18 billion in military aid came from the United States to Israel making the country the biggest arms dealer for the Middle Eastern nation.
Scrutiny continues for Israel who claims their forces work to limit the destruction felt by Palestinian civilians, though over 45,000 people have died in the 14 months war has raged on.
Tensions Between the U.S. and Israel
Tensions between the U.S. and Israel have risen several times during the war in Gaza due to Israel's military actions.
In October 2024, the Biden administration warned Israel that U.S. military aid could be restricted if Gaza’s humanitarian situation didn’t improve within 30 days. There are legal requirements that ensure aid reaches civilians.
After the deadline, the State Department acknowledged Israeli efforts to improve aid flow and decided not to change its arms transfer policy. However, the U.N. and aid agencies continued to warn that conditions in Gaza remained severe.
It's a delicate situation where the U.S. has made statements condemning improper practices when conducting military operations while still supporting its biggest ally in the Middle East.
Could ICC Affect the Palestinian Lawsuit Against the U.S. Government?
Israel continues to maintain its innocence against breaking international laws but not everyone is convinced.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
It’s worth noting that the ICC has also issued a warrant for Mohammed Deif, a military leader for Hamas.
Israel is appealing the arrest warrants as it continues to face growing accusations of genocide against Palestinians, which could bring a case before the International Court of Justice.
Whether there is significant evidence in these cases, if these events occurred, and what this means for the Palestinian lawsuit against the U.S. government is all yet to be seen.
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